Existential Threats to Small Island Developing States: The Case of Tuvalu and Rising Sea Levels

The plight of Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific island nation, has emerged as a stark indicator of the accelerating impacts of anthropogenic climate change. With much of its landmass barely a few meters above sea level, the nation is confronting a dual crisis: the physical encroachment of the ocean and the degradation of the coral reefs that provide natural coastal protection. This situation is not merely an environmental concern but a profound challenge to the traditional Westphalian concept of statehood. For Tuvalu, the loss of territory due to sea-level rise poses a unique legal dilemma. Under current international law, the definition of a 'state' typically requires a defined territory and a permanent population. As coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion render land uninhabitable, the international community is forced to grapple with the status of 'climate refugees' and the potential for 'deterritorialized statehood.' This necessitates a re-evaluation of how global governance frameworks, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), address maritime boundaries when the physical features defining them disappear.